Ten Years of Free 5K’s in Gettysburg (2024)

The very first Free 5K put on by the Physical Fitness Task Force of Healthy Adams County was attended by 40 runners on Sunday, March 29^th, 2015. Since that first run, we have held two free 5K’s each year (except during Covid). If it hadn’t been for Covid, this would have been our 10^th year of running Free 5K’s.

We started holding Free 5K’s as part of our mission to encourage outdoor exercise in Adams County and to make running and racing options for all, regardless of personal finances. We are able to offer these races because of the generosity of the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel at the Gateway Complex. They allow us to use their parking lot, roads and most importantly bathrooms. Thank you Wyndham Gettysburg.

The race has grown since that first small run and since 2019 we have been over 200 runners three times. In total 2150 runners have competed in 15 races. The best time on this course occurred on Labor Day 2022 when Mathew Nawn ran it in 15 minutes and 58 seconds. The only woman to take top spot is Audrey Hess in April 2016. The only person to win twice is Drew Cole in 2017 and 2018. The race has been blessed to have very loyal, fun, and capable volunteers from the Physical Fitness Task Force, the Gettysburg Beer Runners and the YWCA.

These races are very fun and upbeat. We start each race with a live singing of the National Anthem. For the past two years, thanks to Highmark Wholecare, we have been fortunate to have professional timing. This means the runners cross under a colorful blow-up arch to begin the race. On race day there are 20 volunteers on the course to ensure that no one gets lost and that there is lots of cheering and hoopla to encourage the runners. We have a water stop at the half-way point. We are also lucky to have a member with connections to the fruit growers in Adams County and usually have free fruit at the finish line. Thanks to many kind donors we provide nice medals for every child under 13 who finishes the race. Usually, the runners who finish first stay around to cheer on the runners coming in behind them.

Our races have had many touching moments. One year a couple in their 70’s finished together holding hands and cheering – it was their first 5K race ever. One year a family attended wearing matching tee shirts in honor of a brother, son, cousin who was an avid runner that they had lost that year. Since 2021 we have honored one of our founding volunteers, Scott Waybrant, by naming our water stop in his honor. One year we learned a woman was running the race after having lost 100 pounds, several people ran beside her to encourage her to the finish. Then there are the two-year-olds who pop out of their strollers and run the last 20 yards across the finish line. And the kids rooting for their parents to finish, and vice versa. These races bring people together over a shared love of being outdoors and moving. Running/walking – it’s all good. Walking a 5K is equally enjoyable and great exercise too. All are encouraged to participate or to attend and cheer and enjoy the fun atmosphere.

We hope you will consider joining in the fun this year on Memorial Day and/or Labor Day at 8:00 A.M. at the Wyndham Gettysburg Hotel in the Gateway complex. Register online for free at www.runsignup.com.

Betsy Meyer is chair of the Physical Fitness Task Force of Healthy Adams County and participates in the Community Wellness Connections group.